Ancient Civilizations, Feudal Japan, Islamic Achievements, Age of Exploration, African Societies, The Enlightenment, and Meso America Flashcards

Flashcards for semester exam review.

Punic Wars

Three wars between Rome and Carthage from 264 BCE to 146 BCE; Rome emerged victorious, expanding its dominance across the Mediterranean.

Julius Caesar

Initially a general, he took control as consul and later dictator; his assassination in 44 BCE led to the end of the Roman Republic.

Caesar Augustus Rule

Marked the beginning of a 150-year peace known as the Pax Romana; saw the expansion of the empire, improvement in taxation systems, and construction of significant infrastructures.

Jesus of Nazareth

Preached love and forgiveness, attracting a large following; post his execution, Christianity continued to spread, eventually becoming the empire's official religion under Constantine.

Reasons for the Decline of Rome

Economic troubles, overexpansion, reliance on mercenaries, and a series of weak leaders.

Shogun

A Japanese military ruler.

Daimyos

Those in feudal Japan who were responsible for vast land areas and were served by samurais who adhered to the Bushido Code.

Japanese Art

Art forms of feudal Japan such as haiku poetry, woodblock printing, and Noh theatre.

Shintoism

Indigenous religion of feudal Japan emphasizing a deep respect for nature.

Zen Buddhism

Emphasized meditation and discipline.

Hindu-Arabic numeral system

Muslim scholars adopted this numeral system, which revolutionized mathematics and included the crucial concept of zero.

Algebra and Chemistry

Islamic contributions to mathematics.

Astrolabe

Innovation that facilitated maritime navigation immensely, helping sailors to determine direction and location accurately.

Fall of Constantinople

The Ottoman Turks seized this city, causing Europeans to seek new trade routes to Asia.

Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal

He established navigation schools to train explorers in the art of seamanship, rudimentary cartography, and celestial navigation.

Vasco da Gama

First European to reach India by sailing around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.

Christopher Columbus

Funded by Spain, he discovered the Caribbean islands, although he mistakenly believed he had reached India.

Ferdinand Magellan

His expedition became the first to circumnavigate the globe.

Juan Ponce de Leon

Searched for the mythical Fountain of Youth and discovered Florida.

Hernando de Soto

Discovered the Mississippi River.

John Cabot

Claimed what is now the northeastern United States for England.

Encomienda System

Implented by the Spanish crown to regulate Native American labor and autonomy, leading to a social hierarchy in the New World.

Africa

The world's second-largest continent.

Sahara Desert

Covers ⅓ of Africa; sand dunes, hard to travel.

Congo River

Central Africa; flows west; second-largest river on the continent.

Nile River

Extending over 4,000 miles, making it the longest river in the world.

Nok Civilization

Earliest to domesticate iron smelting in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Kingdom of Aksum

Ruled by King Ezana, this kingdom controlled territories extending to parts of Arabia and dominated the Red Sea trade routes.

Ghana Empire

Ruled from 800-1076 CE, the first of the wealthy West African kingdoms; heavily involved in the gold and salt trade.

Mali Empire

Under the leadership of Mansa Musa, this empire was known for its prosperity in the gold trade.

The Enlightenment

During the 17th and 18th centuries, this period marked a significant shift in the way philosophers and thinkers viewed human behavior and societal structures.

Natural Law

Universal moral law that, like physical laws, could be understood through reason.

Thomas Hobbes and Social Contract

Argued individuals are naturally cruel, greedy, and selfish; to live in an organized society, people enter into this type of contract.

John Locke and Natural Rights

Believed people are inherently good and moral and have natural rights to life, liberty, and property. Government's role is to protect these rights, and should it fail, people have the right to overthrow it.

Baron de Montesquieu and Separation of Powers

Advocated for a government structure safeguarded by the separation of powers into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.

Voltaire and Freedom of Expression

Championed freedom of speech and freedom of religion and opposed oppression and the slave trade.

Cesare Beccaria and Criminal Justice Reform

Argued against torture and cruel punishments within the criminal justice system.

Mary Wollstonecraft and Women's Rights

Contended for equal educational opportunities for women and their right to act in their own interests independently of their husbands.

Salons

Served as social venues where intellectuals, artists, and thinkers gathered to exchange ideas during The Enlightenment.

Baroque to Neoclassicism

Characterized by the ornate style, which gave way to the simpler, elegant style, reflecting Enlightenment ideals.

Belief in Progress

The conviction that society and humanity could improve themselves through rational change during The Enlightenment.

Secular Outlook

Moving towards a non-religious perspective in public policies and social norms during The Enlightenment.

Importance of the Individual

Emphasizing personal freedoms and self-determination during The Enlightenment.

Migration Theory B

Proposed early inhabitants used boats along the coast, with sites like Monte Verde in Chile dating back to 12,500 years ago.

Migration Theory C

Suggests an early source of migrants were Asian Pacific populations crossing the Pacific Ocean.

The Olmec Civilization

Flourished between 1500 and 400 B.C.E. and were involved in extensive trade networks; known for their large carved heads.

Teotihuacan

At its height between 400 and 600 C.E., it housed about 200,000 inhabitants; known for its large temples and marketplaces.

Mayan Civilization

Thrived from 2000 B.C.E. but reached its peak between 325 and 900 C.E.; renowned for their astronomical and mathematical achievements.

Toltecs

Known for their militaristic and artistic achievements, heavily influencing later cultures including the Aztecs.

Inca Empire

Expanded by Pachacuti from 1438 - 1471, was known for its centralized government, extensive road networks, and terraces farming.